George Ralph Yeadon McGinnis passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013, at his home in Lakeside.
He was a fun-loving, outgoing people person and true Montanan. Not long ago he wrote an obituary for himself, which reads:
"Geo (to his friends and family) has kicked the bucket, and is now dead and gone.
"Cremated at my request, with ashes to be dispersed by my two lovely daughters at a location that I visited often as a youth growing up in the Upper Rattlesnake.
"Born in Missoula at St. Patrick hospital and brought home to Eddy Avenue for the first three years until dad purchased our home on Wylie Avenue in the Upper Rattlesnake Valley.
"I was part of the first graduating class at Rattlesnake Grade School, then on to Hellgate High as an all-freshman school. We were the first junior class to be in the Big 32 - and was in the first graduating class from Hellgate High in 1966.
"They let me leave high school with diploma in hand and on to University of Montana for a short two quarters.
"Member of the U.S. Army 19th Special Forces (Green Berets) from 1967 to1974, graduated from Special Forces school at Fort Bragg, N.C., and graduated from Airborne Training at Fort Benning, Ga. Worked at Champion Intermountain Lumber Company of Missoula for 21 years.
"Member of Local Union 2685, president of LPIW Local, Labor Day picnic committee member in Missoula, Billings, Miles City, Libby, Superior and Kalispell, member of LPIW 3030 Bonner - Champion International and member of Local 1334 Laborers Union 18 years, as well as being on their negotiating committee.
"Employed as coordinator for a federally funded retraining program Project Challenge Work Again operated by the Montana State AFL-CIO for 18 years. Retired from Montana State AFL-CIO in 2005, while residing in Lakeside.
"Loved to spend time at Flathead Lake, swimming daily on warmer days at the local Lakeside swimming hole. Loved to garden and grew almost all veggies. Spent as much time as possible with my daughters and granddaughter. Loved to travel, with trips to Europe, Canada and most of the U.S., and special trips to Seattle several times a year, as well as a yearly trip to a timeshare in Newport, Ore. Loved New Orleans and the swamp buggy tours, and spent lots of time in Las Cruces, N.M. each year.
"Avid Montana Griz Fan for football - season ticket and GSA member, as well as follower of the Lady Griz basketball program.
"Loved to spend time in the woodworking shop, making almost all kinds of cedar and pine furniture, and specializing in small-to-very large cedar trunks. Loved the smell of freshly cut wood.
"I hope those who knew me remember me as a gentle, large person who always tried to help others to better themselves and their communities."
George is survived by his wife, Anne McGinnis; daughters, Amanda and Katy McGinnis; granddaughter, Gwendolyn Leikam; brother-in-law, Col. Richard Willis; nephews, Jim and Joe Willis; niece, Pam Glassel; as well as stepchildren, Sara and Morgan Gothard; and grandchildren; Brandon, Zoe and Mia.
If you knew George and want to send flowers, please instead donate some turkeys to your local food bank this Thanksgiving.